Fans of Skelwith Fold will have to wait just that little bit longer to get their caravans and motorhomes onto a pitch at this popular Lake District campsite.

Despite a “totally unprecedented” demand for bookings, owner Henry Wild has refused to be rushed into opening to tourers on 4 July, planning, instead a ‘soft opening’ for the owners of caravan holiday homes to the 130-acre wooded park. 

Tourers will be welcomed 10 days later on 15 July. The delay gives the staff a chance to become accustomed to the new normal, which includes “a raft of social distancing and safety measures,” says Wild.

“The aim is to help ensure that guests can enjoy their stay with complete peace of mind, but we also want our team to be confident about carrying out their work.

 “Aspects such as contactless check-ins, monitoring certain communal areas, and the deep-cleaning of accommodation between visits will all take getting used to.”

Wild wants to keep a close eye on what is happening around the park, and fine-tune procedures if necessary. But he is also very keen to see “Skelwith Fold buzzing again with happy faces, and people enjoying the type of outdoor experience they have been craving for months!”